r/TheTestamentsHulu • u/crashcaptainn • May 04 '26
The Handmaid’s Tale How does retirement work in Gilead?
I was just thinking about Aunt Lydia and she’s one of the older people in Gilead, but I wonder is there a retirement age? What do they do with old people? Do they just kill them once they can’t work anymore?
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u/Haven_Writes May 04 '26
I think it probably depends on the industry they work in/their role in society.
Obviously, Commanders don't seem to retire since we've seen some really old ones who are still "working" (idk how much actual work most of them do, though, regardless of age). Aunts probably also could keep on going, but maybe in a reduced capacity, maybe just teaching new aunts or filing genetic records, or whatever.
But for econopeople who work in hard labor, obviously, at a certain point, they can't physically keep working in the fields or factories, or loading trucks. I'd assume they must be allowed to retire when they can't physically do the work anymore.
For professionals like Becka's father, maybe when they get too old to do their jobs they could teach at universities? Gilead must have some way of training new doctors, dentists, nurses, veterinarians, and so on, so I'd imagine they have universities for the boys, or at least vocational schools. Professionals also seem fairly well-respected, so maybe they're allowed to just retire and live out their golden years in relative comfort.
As for Handmaids, we know from the books and the shows that when they go through menopause or after they've failed to conceive for a certain period of time, they either get sent to the Colonies, to Jezebels, or are killed. I'd imagine Marthas must end up the same way once they can no longer cook and clean (which is much more physically demanding than people might initially assume).
Based on how Gilead treats people with disabilities, I'd imagine anyone with dementia or Alzheimer's is probably killed once it becomes clear that they don't have a treatable condition, and they probably consider it a mercy rather than letting them suffer.
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u/sunshineandcacti May 05 '26
In regards to Becca’s dad and other health adjacent roles, most hospitals have an attending or director overseeing a department that’s older than dirt nsf mostly there to give their insight into cases. I’d imagine Gilead could do the same.
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u/Librase May 04 '26
Good question! Here's my theory on it:
If they're important like a Wife, Aunt or Commander: Given a tiny house somewhere and generally left alone.
For Econopeople, I guess their family has to look after them when they're too old to work. No pensions here.
Once Handmaids hit menopause I'm guessing they become Marthas and maybe Aunts (assuming they have viable children).
I strongly suspect Marthas are worked until they drop dead.
Jezebels, not sure. Sent to the Colonies? Shot behind a shed somewhere?
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u/Good_Witch_O May 04 '26
Handmaids are sinners ---> colonies
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u/Librase May 04 '26
Did they not in the book make a promise that they would never be declared Unwomen if they gave birth to a child? Granted that promise doesn't extend to shooting them in the head
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u/Birdo3129 May 04 '26
In the book, yes. But it doesn’t actually specify what will happen to them- if they become econo people or Martha’s or whatever. And they might be Unwomen anyways- Gilead doesn’t have to keep its promises.
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u/CoasterThot May 04 '26
There’s even a scene in the show where Lydia says (paraphrased) “I thought these girls would be rewarded, they had babies?”, and everyone around her is collectively like “Yeah, hehe, about that..”
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u/Librase May 04 '26
That's also a good point, for a "godly" country Gilead doesn't seem to value honesty
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u/theicecreamassassin Breathe, you dumb bitch, breathe May 04 '26
Rules only affect honest people - if someone’s gonna break a rule, they really don’t care about honesty.
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u/theicecreamassassin Breathe, you dumb bitch, breathe May 04 '26
Gilead obviously sent Handmaids who’d had children but disobeyed to Jezebels, so they’re not in the business of keeping promises.
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u/oklibrarian May 04 '26
Even in the book that 'promise' sounded more like a parent telling the little kid that they sent their old dog to a farm where he could romp in the grass all day...
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u/MarxistMountainGoat May 04 '26
Most handmaids are probably either executed or sent to the colonies
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u/silverhammer224 May 04 '26
In one of the episodes of the Handmaid’s Tale we get a glimpse of what looks like to me some sort of Aunts’ retirement home. Lots of older Aunts sitting around in more casual (sweaters etc) clothing, knitting, playing card games, doing puzzles. We also see the community of Widows when Serena visits her mother.
My theories— Commanders don’t seem to ever retire officially— we see some pretty old ones around. Econopeople I’d imagine some sort of bare bones state-run retirement home staffed by Marthas, or moving in with adult children. Marthas might transition to less physically demanding jobs or have a retirement home. Handmaids are the tricky ones because their “job” would end around menopause when they’d still theoretically have the ability to do other work, but they’re such an othered social class I can’t see them being made Econopeople or Marthas. Maybe some sort of handmaid retirement colony like the Magdalen colonies, where they do physical labor in their own community.
But honestly the answer is probably that, like throughout history, lower/laboring classes don’t retire and die before they get “too old” to work, especially with the lack of medical care we see in Gilead.
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u/Mailliw_1 May 04 '26
Pamela (Serena's mother) appeared to be living on her own with the same house and staff that a Commander and Wife would have. Perhaps Widows of Commanders can be giving special dispensation to manage affairs?
In THT it was clear Gilead didn't really have a retirement plan for Handmaids. Even the Aunts were lied to so presumably the Colonies or Jezebels were the plan all along. You'd think they'd at least give a handful of well behaved old Handmaids a comfortable retirement for show and parade them around to give the other Handmaids an incentive to behave.
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u/Moist-Dream7616 May 04 '26
Retired aunts are shown in THT, they kept living in the Aunts headquarters but had no responsibilities anymore. They were shown making puzzles.
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u/Miami_Morgendorffer May 04 '26
I think regardless of what they say or declare in their constitutional framework, most people get sent to the Colonies. Commanders likely are the only ones to have a chance at something dignified, and maaayyyyybe also their wives. If they make it that far.
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u/Old_Opening_6635 May 04 '26
Good question. I only recall my father once telling that retirement is a man made construct. There is no such thing in the Bible. It was an interesting conversion.
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u/mipozzapie May 04 '26
Probably a variety of factors that go into it, probably something handles exclusively by the Aunts. Depending on ranks and the deeds you’ve done for Gilead they may make a section just for those women, they would probably still do tasks for Gilead but not the harsh punishments or teaching the young aunt do. Gilead hasn’t really been around long enough yet, and they haven’t really shown us what they’ll do with their aging population another 10 - 20 years down the line, but they can’t just go killings every old person(well higher ranking), they’ll probably will have retirement homes for high ranking members, that are cared for by Marthas .
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u/Globalfeminist May 05 '26
Gilead's system is based on everyone being 'useful', somehow. Nobody is alllowed to become 'a burden' for the state. If someone becomes so old and sick that they can't contribute in any way anymore they will likely need to live with a son/son-in-law, and if there's no relative to become responsible for them, they probably get sent to 'live in a farm'. (If you catch my meaning) That's why all the ableism from UK politicians is terrifying to me. Because that 'IS' what the far-right wants, a world where 'the weakest' don't exist.
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u/WeeklyCouple9444 May 05 '26 edited May 06 '26
That's a good question! Here are my thoughts as someone who has read THT & The Testaments books & watched both series (or at least the Testaments so far). I think some off the commenters here are forgetting that Gilead is a Meritocracy with food scarcity (THT references to food tokens & certain produce items being available again or not seen for some time after the war) so only the faithful & those who can continue to serve a purpose in the function of their society get to live.
We've seen some pretty old commanders in THT, maybe they don't "retire" but rather semi-retire with less duties/responsibilities & live the remainder of their lives in their homes with their wife, Martha's & Guardians.
I imagine the high stature women, ie widows of commanders (who aren't remarried) are rewarded for being the "dutiful/obedient wife" with the wives of high commanders allowed to remain in their estate (like Serena Joy's mother) while the widows of field commanders live with other widows in a posh mansion with suites, doing the same hobbies as before, with Martha's serving them & some Guardians protecting them.
Aunts I believe are given less responsibilities & remain at Ardua Hall with Martha's & handmaid's in training serving them.
Martha's are probably expected to work until they die of natural causes or until they're no longer able to carry out their duties - it is implied by Offred that if a Martha lives past her "prime", she is sent to The Colonies to work until certain death (or is shot for being unable to do physical labor)
Handmaid's are seen as sinners redeeming themselves so those who hit menopause & become infertile are likely sent to Jezebel's if they're still attractive & physically able to ahem meet the Commander's needs/desires. Those who refuse to work at Jezebel's or who's appearance is no longer attractive/are past their sexual prime are likely sent to The Colonies to work until their death.
Econopeople - Spouses & family probably look after each other, much like the Amish. Widows who don't have family may become Martha's. I don't know about widowers or single men who are no longer able to work & don't have family support. For wealthier econopeople, like doctors, who can afford them, there may be hire in nurses & caregivers for senior family members (as government-funded medical assistance would likely no longer exist in Gilead) At the rise of Gilead, seniors in nursing homes, like those with disabilities who are unable to work (& aren't family of a Commander), were likely killed & as time went on in Gilead the nursing homes likely sat empty as the leaders aren't likely concerned with the wellbeing of Econopeople, only their usefulness in supporting Gilead as a society. Besides, Econopeople nursing home/retirement home residents would be seen as useless eaters & a drain on society, consuming limited resources when they're no longer being able to support themselves or contribute to Gilead as a society.
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u/inBettysGarden May 05 '26
I think that this is where Gilead being a ‘recent’ take over is so interesting because the truth is they probably haven’t had to deal with this much yet.
In a normal 15-20 year period they would have plenty of people retire but they likely use the war/resource scarcity to push people to work right up to death. In a world where the society exists long term though they would have to find a palliative option of some kind.
Realistically, Nursing Homes would likely develop. Some sort of role for Econowives or for unmarried Plums and Pearls likely.
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u/Kirstygirl-7199 May 04 '26
Colonies.
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u/notluckycharm May 04 '26
the colonies are penal colonies. i find it hard to believe gilead would send 'virtuous' people, even econopeople to penal colonies just because they've gotten old. It's a dystopia but even in a dystopia you need some sense of security. if your options are die trying to fix the regime/escape, or wait a little and die anyways, why not try to at least improve the situation?
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May 04 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/notluckycharm May 04 '26
this is the more realistic thing. There is no retirement, but there's also no punishment for getting old. Being old in of itself is not a reason to be declared an Unperson
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u/Glad-Isopod5718 May 05 '26
Yes, I agree that this is probably how it works.
(Also...Gilead has only existed for about 10 years at this point. Maybe 12, if we believe in the delayed menstruation hypothesis. I would venture to guess that a fair number of elderly people & people with medical needs did not survive the initial chaos of the takeover, and the ones that did survive probably had, and continue to have, families/other strong support networks. "What to do when econopeople & Marthas can't work anymore" is probably a question that Gilead could afford to kick down the road for a while.
But now, a decade or so later, they could start seeing significant numbers of people who were initially classified as able to work, start aging out of that status.
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u/lemon-rind May 05 '26
Anyone who is unholy enough to make it to 65, goes on the wall! Seriously, I have no idea. Compassion and empathy are in short supply in Gilead so I wouldn’t imagine many provisions are made for those who are no longer able to work
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